A new long-term flume experiment shows that bed load gravel travels downstream in recurring, 10-hour pulses even when water flow and sediment supply are constant.
Research Spotlights
Research spotlights are plain-language summaries of recent articles published in AGU’s suite of 24 journals.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Invasive Freshwater Mussels Drive Changes in Estuary Sediments
The golden mussel has spread quickly in the 30 years since its arrival in South America and is transforming aquatic ecosystems in waterways across the continent.
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On the Origin of Infragravity Waves
Seafloor pressure sensor data show that long-period ocean surface waves radiating from the world’s shorelines are mostly reflected back to shore by the continental shelf edge.
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Measurements of Kelvin-Helmholtz Waves in Earth’s Magnetic Field
Simultaneous satellite observations from different distances of Earth’s magnetic tail offer insight into how these instability waves evolve through time and space.
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Glacial Meltwater Plumes Support Greenland Phytoplankton Blooms
Field measurements from the Bowdoin Glacier show that entrainment of deep water into upwelling glacial discharge delivers crucial nutrients to the surface of the surrounding fjord.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Is Mars Not So Earthlike After All?
Light-colored Gale crater rocks could have formed from intraplate volcanoes, not continental crust, new study finds.
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Evaluating the Accuracy of Seasonal Climate Predictions
An analysis of historical modeling outputs is improving our understanding of the relationships between different types of seasonal forecasting skills.
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Effects of Acid Rain, Climate Change on Freshwater Lakes
New England lakes weathered years of acid rain. A new study tracks how they are faring after 30 years of regulation and how climate change factors into the equation.
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Tracing the Steps of Hydrothermal Activity in Hrad Vallis, Mars
Conditions that formed Amazonian age valleys may have been hospitable to microbial life.
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How Mesquite Trees Gain a Competitive Edge in Arid Arizona
A new study shows that mesquites employ hydraulic redistribution to move water between soil layers in the savannas of Santa Rita.